Cruelty-free living for vegans and future vegans big and small

Plant-Based Fluffy Pancakes

With Pancake Day around the corner, I’d like to share my favourite fluffy pancake recipe with you. It’s completely plant-based so great for vegans – we have these at least once a week as they are delicious and sometimes the only way to get Little V out of bed! The light and fluffy mix that is free from refined sugar can be adapted to make sweet, savoury and also the smaller fatter American-style pancakes. I add chia seeds as they are a great source of Omega 3.

Sweet mix – makes 4 large pancakes or 8 smaller American-style

150g plain or wholewheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

300ml oat milk (soya works well too)

Pinch of sea salt

1 tablespoon maple or agave syrup – plus extra on top

Rapeseed oil

1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional) – plus extra on top if you have them

In a large bowl put the flour, baking powder and salt and mix thoroughly. Poor in the oat milk, whisking as you go along. Add in the remaining ingredients (syrup, seeds and vanilla) until the batter is smooth.

Heat a non stick pan with oil – rapeseed or other flavourless oil like sunflower is best – and once hot pour a ladle full of the mix in. Check to see when the bottom is a nice golden brown then flip to brown the other side – add your toppings and serve.

For smaller American-style pancakes try adding a handful of blueberries in the raw mix makes for a delicious treat – just make sure the are cooled enough when serving to little ones as the fruit will be super-hot. When pouring in the mix don’t tilt the pan to spread the mixture, and try to keep it all as dense as possible. They will need a little longer in the pan too before flipping.

Top with fresh fruit, a drizzle of maple syrup, dark chocolate drops or, if you have time, a home-made fruit syrup is delicious. To make this just take a handful of frozen or fresh berries, heat in a pan with a squeeze of lemon juice, a teaspoon of coconut (or brown) sugar or maple syrup and a dash of water. Simmer and stir until the fruit mix bubbles and is soft and jammy. You will need to let it cool slightly. If it’s just for adults, a dash of rum is a welcome flavour.

Savoury mix – large pancakes

150g wholewheat flour

300ml oat milk (soya works well too)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon chia seeds if you have them

Pinch of salt (sea salt is best)

Make the batter and cook as above. Load with grated dairy-free cheese (Violife works very well), sliced vegan sausages or faux ham. I like mine with cheese, avocado, spring onions and Sriracha chilli sauce – yum!